Engine-valve.



filo 726,919.

NlTED STAT-ES Patented May 5,1903.

ATENT FFICE.

MAURY WV. IIIBBARD AND VVILBER S. BARROWS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ENGINE-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 726,919, dated May 5, 1903.

Application filed September 20, 1901. Serial No. 75,824 (No modeli) To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MAURY W, HIBBARD and WILBER S. BARROWS, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illi nois, have invented certain new and useful.

Improvements in Engine-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to valves for engines generally, more particularly, but notnecessarily, steam-engines and of the type comfor prolonging the exhaust until the comple-- tion or substantially the completion of the stroke of the main or enginepis'ton, all as hereinafter made apparent. Provision is also made for regulating the speed of the exhaust, so as to afford more or less cushioning of the main piston,,as may be found desirable in actual practice.

Other novel and advantageous features in construction and ope-ration will be apparent from the description hereinafter given.

In the drawings, Figure l is a sectional elevation of the piston-valve and a portion of the engine-cylinder and its piston and showing one position of the piston-valve. 'Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the piston-valve in another position; Fig. 3, a sectionon line A B of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, an end elevation of one of the pistons of'the'piston valve, and Fig. 5 a fragmentary section show? ing a modified form or adjustable connection between one of thepuppet-valves and itsconnecting-rod. I

This invention has more particular relation to steam-locomotives, where "piston speed is a matter of serious consideration, and the description hereinafter given will be made with special reference tosuch particular application, although it will be understood that it is contemplated to use the invention wherever applicable andwithout reference to whether the motive fluid be steam, air or gas, or the like.

he considered as the motive fluid in giving the following description of the construction For convenience, however, steam will and mode of operation of this new form and operation of valve.

The engine-cylinder l, in which the main piston 2 travels, may be cast integral with or formed separate from the steam chest 3. Live steamenters the steam-chest centrally thereof, or substantially so, through the opening or inlet 4, and the outlet or exhaust is throughthe. opposite endsf5 of such chest. In the two ends of the steam-chestare pressed or fitted similar bushings 6,.which are each provided with a seriesof ports 7, adapted to communicate with the ring ports or circular grooves 8 in the inner wall of the steamchest, which grooves in turn communicate, respectively, with the steam-ports 9 and 10, entel-ing the engine-cylinder. The piston-valve, which operates in the steam-chest, comprises in the present instance a shell having a tubular central portion 11 and the two similar pistons proper, (marked 12.) Inasmuch as both of these pistons are thesamein construction, a detailed description of one of them is sufficient, and the same reference characters will be applied to corresponding parts of both pistons. In the outer face of each piston is formed a cavity or cylinder 13,which is closed by a headl l, bolted or otherwise secured to the piston proper. In each cylinder 13 travels a piston 15, which by reason of its functions and in order to distinguish it from the other pistons within which itoperateswill hereinafter be termed a puppet-valve. These puppet-valves'are connected together bya rod 16,-which extendslthrough the tubular portion 11 of the shell,whichis provided with packing-rings 17 or the likew-here it passes through the inwardly-projecting tubular extension 18 in each piston. Asshown in Figs. 1 and'2, the pistons are secured to the rod 16 by means of the nuts 19, one of them being a jam-nut, screwing onto the'ends of the rod and received in a countersink in each valve, so as not to project between the outer face of the puppet-valves. Consequently these puppet-valves are always at a fixed distance apart; but in order to provide an effect similar to the lengthening of the rod 16, fora purpose hereinafter explained, a simple and efficient construction is shown in Fig. 5, in

which washers or collars 20 are inserted on the connecting-rod 16, as clearly shown in-said figure,whereby the valves are caused to be distanced apart according to the size or number of such washers as may be found desirable to be used by the operator.

Each puppet-valve has in the present instance a raised or outwardly-extending central portion 2L of reduced diameter as compared with the outer diameter of the entire valve, which central portion works in a chamber formed on the head 14 and, in effect,constituting a part of the chamber 13, hereinbefore mentioned. Each valve also has a lateral flange portion 22, which works in that portion of the cylinder or chamber formed in the piston proper.

Each piston has a series of radial ports 23 entering the chamber 13 behind the puppetvalve and also a similar series of ports 24 also entering said chamber, but adapted to communicate therewith on the opposite side of said puppet-valve. Each puppet-valve is adapted to travel over the ports 24,and thereby govern communication between them and a series of ports 25, passing through the rods 14, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. The series of ports 24 and 25 will for convenience be termed auxiliary exhaust-ports by reason of theirfunction of providing an exhaust which is auxiliary to the main exhaust. It is now deemed the more practical and preferable to employ a series of ports, just as above described, although it is evident that some measure of advantage of my invention may be attained by the use of single ports instead of a series of the same.

The pistons are adapted to govern the steam-ports 9 and 10, and they are consequently arranged at the proper distance apart to provide the proper action, as hereinafter made apparent, as well as to provide the proper lead.

Practical experience has demonstrated that piston-valves wear out rapidly by hammering themselves, owing to the rapid violent movements necessary in high-speed locomotives. For instance, the puppet-valves in the present construction now being described would make approximately six hundred strokes per minute on a locomotive having six-foot drivers and traveling at a rate of from sixty to sixty-five miles an hour. Consequently the puppet-valve construction has been so made as to provide for properly cushioning the movements of such valves in order that they may not injure or hammer themselves to pieces. To this end the heads 14 have a small port or bleed-opening 26, communicating with the chamber or cavity within which the puppetvalves operate. Under this provision these puppet-valves will be effectually cushioned, but-without interfering with their proper functions in the control of the auxiliary exhaust. it

In order to alford a clear understanding of the action and operation of the device, a complete cycle of movements of the parts will new be explained. Starting with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2, but with the puppet-valves in their right-hand position with respect to the piston-valves proper, the piston-valve is at this time moving to the left, having just begun to open the steamport 9, so as to admit live steam to the lefthand side of the engine-piston 2, as indicated by the arrow in said port 9. Continued movement of the piston-valve to the left will uncover the steam-port 9 still further and simultaneously open the other steam-port 10 to its full extent, or sufficiently so as to permit a free exhaust from the right-hand side of the main piston. The exhaust through either the ports 9 or 10 due to the uncovering of either of said ports by the piston-valve is herein designated as the mainexhaust. Immediately upon the entrance of live steam to the steam-port 9, as just explained, a portion of such live steam will pass through the series of ports 23 and enter the chamber 13 behind the left-hand puppet-valve, with the result that such valve will be forced to the left to the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby closing communication between ports 24 and 25 on the left-hand piston and at the same time open communication between the similar ports on the right-hand piston. At this time the auxiliary exhaust in the left-hand piston is closed and the auxiliary exhaust in the right-hand piston is open. The engine-piston will now move to the right, and after a certain length oftravel determined by the constructor or operator, but in the present instance just after a half-stroke thereof, the piston-valve will move to the right to the position shown in Fig. 1, thereby closing the steam-port 9 and permitting the steam theretofore admitted to the left-hand side of the engine-piston to expand and force such piston to the right. At this time the main exhaust through the steam-port 10 will be closed; but an auxiliary exhaust-is permitted to the ports 24 and 25 in the right-hand pistonvalve, as clearly shown by the arrows in Fig. 1. The engine-piston not having completed its stroke to the right, it is desirable and is one of the objects of this invention to prolong the exhaust, so as to prevent undue compression of the exhaust, it being a wellknown fact that in the locomotives of to-day piston-speed limitations are exhaust limitatations and not supply limitations. In the construction shown the auxiliary exhaustports are of such carrying capacity as to provide suflicient cushioning for the main piston, and consequently it is preferable to permit the auxiliary exhaust to remain open until the completion or substantially the completion of the stroke of the engine-piston. The amount of cushioning which occurs when the auxiliary exhaust is open may, if desired, be regulated by varying the size of the auxiliary exhaust-ports, and to this end one fea ture of this invention contemplates, broadly, means for so varying the size thereof or caus- Fig. 5.

inbefore explained, the puppet-Valves will.

not permit full opening of the ports 24:,but will restrict or check them, and thereby decrease their carrying capacity. By the time the main piston has made its full stroke to the right, as

- just described, the piston-valves have moved to the right to a position still farther than that illustrated in Fig. 1, thereby opening the main exhaust through the steam-port 9 and also relieving the pressure behind the lefthand puppet-valve. At the first comm unication between the steam-space and thesteamport 10 the live steam enters behind the righthand puppet-valve and forces it to the right, thereby opening the left-hand auxiliary exhaust-opening. Continued movement of the piston-valve to the right opens the steamport 10 more or less fully, as described, and the right-hand side of the engine-piston now becomes the pressure side. After a partial travel of such engine-piston to the left the piston-valve moves to the left and closes the steam-port 10, as well as the main exhaust through the steam-port 9; but the auxiliary exhaust is opened at this point, thereby permitting the exhaust to escape with more or less freedom, but with sufficient freedom to permit the proper action of the engine-piston. Further movement of the engine-piston and piston-valves to the left to the position shown in Fig. 2 completes the cycle of movements and brings us back to the relative position from which we started.

By the construction described it is evident that high compression of the exhaust is avoided by prolonging the time of the exhaust and also that any degree of cushioning effect is obtainable by regulating'the carrying capac-- ity of the auxiliary exhaust-ports.

The auxiliary exhaust-passages are positively closed and leakage of steam therethrough absolutely prevented by the construction herein shown, as it is evident that the edge or rim of the puppet-yalves are adapted to ride over and close the series of ports 24, and at the same time the body of such valves is seated directly upon the ports 25. While for obtaining this effectual closing of the'auxiliary exhaust it is now preferred to employ a piston, yet it will be obvious that a movable abutment, thus including a diaphragm, may be used where a piston has been called for in thespecificatiou and in the claims following.

We claim- 1. In combination with a piston and its cyl- 1 in each of said chambers, which are provided -with ports adapted tocommunicate between opposite sides of the puppetvalve and said inder having ports for the fluid-pressure, piston-valve mechanism comprising two connected pistons governing said ports and each having auxiliary exhaust ports or passages, and means actuated by the live pressure for controlling said exhaust-ports.

2. In combination with a piston and its cylinder having ports for the fluid-pressure, piston-valve mechanism comprising two connected pistons governing said ports and each having auxiliary exhaust ports or passages, and

means actuated by the live pressure and located in said pistons for controlling said exhaust-ports.

3. In combination with a piston and its cylinder having ports for the fluid-pressure, piston-valve mechanism comprising two connected pistons governing saidports and each having auxiliary exhaust ports or passages, and

means actuated by thelive pressure for alternately opening and closing such 1 exhaustports in the two pistons respectively.

4:. In combination with a piston and its cylinder having ports for the fluid-pressure, piston-valve mechanism comprising two connected positively-actuated pistons governing said ports and each having auxiliary exhaust ports or passages, and means actuated by the live pressure and located within said pistons for controlling said exhaust-ports and alternately closing the same in the two pistons respectively.

5. In combination with a piston and its cylinder having ports for the fluid-pressure, piston-valve mechanism comprising two connected pistons governing said ports and each having auxiliary exhaust ports or passages,amovable member in said pistons actuated by the live pressure for controlling said exhaustports, and means for cushioning the-movements of said member.

6. In combination with a piston and it's cylinder having ports for the fluid-pressure, piston-valve mechanism comprising two connected pistons governing said ports and each having auxiliary exhaust ports or passages,mechanismin said pistons for controlling said exhaust-ports and means for adjusting said mechanism to varyingsaid control.

7. In combination with a piston and its cylinder having ports for the fluid-pressure, piston-valve mechanism comprising two con-nected pistons governing said ports and each having an interior chamber or puppet-valve in each of said chambers which are provided with ports adapted to communicate between opposite sides of the puppet-valve and said cylinder-ports and also provided with a portto the exhaust, said puppet-valve governing said exhaust-port and also the port leading to the same side of such valve as the exhaust-port.

8. In combination with a piston and itscylinder having ports for the fluid-pressure, piston-valve mechanism comprising two connected pistons governing said ports and each having an interior chamber or puppet-valve cylinder-ports, and also provided with'a port to the exhaust each of said valves governing the exhaust-port and one of the other ports,

and means for cushioning the movements of said valves. 1 Y

9. In combination with a piston and its cylinder having ports for the fluid-pressure, pistonvalve mechanism comprising two connected pistons governing said ports and each having an interior chamber, a puppet-valve in each of said chambers which are provided with ports adapted at times to communicate with the cylinderport and also adapted to communicate between opposite sides of the puppet-valve and said cylinder-ports and also provided with a port to the exhaust said chambers being also provided with a bleedopening to cause cushioning of their movements.

10. In combination withapiston and its cyl inder having ports for the fluid-pressure, piston-valve mechanism comprising two connected pistons governing said ports and each having an interior chamber, a puppet-valve in each of said chambers, which are provided with ports adapted at times to communicate with the cylinder-port and also adapted to communicate between opposite sides of the puppet-valve and said cylinder-ports and also provided with a port to the exhaust, a rod connecting said valves, and means for varying the distance between said valves.

11. Piston-valve mechanism for the cylinders of steam-engines comprising two pistons governing the steam-ports of such cylinders and providing a main exhaust and also an auxiliary exhaust which is open after the main exhaust is closed, and means under the control of live steam for governing said auxiliary exhaust.

12. Piston-valve mechanism for governing steam-ports of the cylinders of steam-engines, comprising two pistons governing said ports and provided with auxiliary exhaust-passages and adapted to communicate between the cylinder and the exhaust, and means positively actuated by live steam and located within said pistons for controlling said exhaust-passages.

13. Piston-valve mechanism for governing steam-ports of the cylinders of steam-engines,

comprisingtwo pistons governing said ports,

and provided with auxiliary exhaust-passages and adapted to communicate between the cylinder and theexhaust, and live-steam-actuated valves within said pistons for controlling said exhaust-passages.

1a. Piston-valve mechanism for governing steam-ports of the cylinders of steam-engines comprising two pistons governing said ports and provided with an xiliary-exhaust passages and adapted to communicate between thecylinder and the exhaust, and valves located within said pistonsfor controlling said exhaust-passages and actuated by live steam, said valves being connected to cause closing of the auxiliary exhaust in one piston and the opening of the auxiliary exhaust in the other piston.

15. Piston-valve mechanism for governing steam-ports of the cylinders of steam-engines comprising two connected pistons, each having a chamber or cavity, each chamber having the auxiliary exhaust-ports 24: and 25,

and also the steam-port 23, and a puppetvalve movable in each of said chambers and adapted in one position to open communication between ports 24.- and 25 and in another position to close such communication.

16. Piston-valvemechanism for governing steam-ports to the cylinders of steam-engines comprising two connected pistons each having a chamber or cavity, each chamber having the auxiliary exhaust-ports 24 and 25, and also the steam-port 23 and also having a bleed-opening 26 to permit cushioning action, and a puppet-valve movable in each of said chambers, and adapted in one positionto open communication between ports 24: and 25 and in another position to close such communication.

17. Piston-valve mechanism comprising connected pistons having interior cylinders provided with auxiliary exhaust-ports 2 1 and 25 and steam-port 23, each cylinder having two chambers of different diameters and a puppet-valve for each piston and having an extended portion 21 fitting in one of said chambers and a flange portion fitting in the other, said valve governing communication between ports 24 and 25.

18. In combination vwith a steam-chest having a steam-inlet and exhaust-outlet, piston-valve mechanism operative in said chest and comprising a shell having a tubular intermediate portion 11 and end pistons 12 with the steam-space between them, heads secured to the outer ends of said pistons to form cylinders which have auxiliary exhaust-ports 24 and 25 and steam-port 23, and a puppet-valve operative in each cylinder for controlling the ports 24.- and 25 and having a connecting-rod 16 extending through said intermediate portion 11 of the shell.

19. In combination with a steam-chest having a steam-inlet and exhaust-outlet, pistonvalve mechanism operated in said chest and comprising a shell having a tubular intermediate portion 11 and end pistons 12 with the steam-space between them, heads secured to the outer ends of said pistons to form cylinders which have auxiliary exhaust-ports 2 1 and 25 and steam-port 23, each of said cylinders consisting of two chambers of dilferent diameters, the chamber of the lesser diameter being formed in each head and of the greater diameter in each piston, a cylindricalshaped puppet-valve having an extended reduced portion 21 and a flange portion 22 working in said chambers, the side of such flange portion being adapted to close port 25 and the edge of such flange portion to close port 24.

20. In combination with a steam-chest having a steam-inlet and exhaust-outlet, pistonvalve mechanism operative in said chest and comprising a shell having a tubular intermediate portion 11 and end pistons with the steam-space between them, heads secured to the outer ends of said pistons to form cylinders which have auxiliary exhaust-ports 24 and 25 and steam-port 23, each of said cylinders consisting of two chambers of difierent diameters, the chamber of the lesser diameter being formed in each head and of the greater diameter in each piston, said chamber in the head having a bleed-opening, a cylindrical-shaped puppet-valve formed correspondingly with the shape of said chambers and sliding therein to govern communication between ports 24 and 25, the chamber of the lesser diameter and the bleed-opening providing cushioning of the valve.

21. In combination with a steam-chest having a steam-inlet and exhaust-outlet pistonvalve mechanism operative in said chest and comprising a shell having a tubular intermediate portion 11 and end pistons 12 with the steanrspace between them, heads secured to the outer ends of said pistons to form cylinders which have auxiliary exhaust-ports 24 and 25 and steam-port 23, a valve operative in each cylinder to govern the ports 24 and 25, each of said pistons having a tubular extension 18 and a connecting-rod 16 connecting said valves and passing through said extensions.

22. In combination with a steam-chest having a steam-inlet and exhaust-outlet pistonvalve mechanism operative in said chest and comprising a shell having a tubular space between them, heads secured to the outer ends of said pistons to form cylinders which have auxiliary exhaust-ports 24 and 25 and steamport 23, a valve operative in each cylinder to govern the ports 24 and 25, each of said pistons having a tubular extension 18 and a connecting-rod 16 connecting said valves and passing through said extensions, and means forpackingthe connecting-rod whereit passes through said extensions.

23. In combination with a steam-chest having a steam-inlet and exhaust-outlet, pistonvalve mechanism operative in said chest and comprising a shell having a tubular intermediate portion 11 and end pistons 12, with the steam-space between them, heads secured to the outer ends of said pistons to form cylinders which have auxiliary exhaust-ports 24 and 25 and steam-port 23, a valve in each cylinder to govern the-ports24 and 25, a rod 16 connecting said valves, and means for adjusting-the position of such valves on the rod.

24. In combination with a steam-chest having a steam-inlet and exhaust-outlet, pistonvalve mechanism operative in said chest and comprising a shell having a tubular intermediate portion 11, and end pistons 12 having the steam-space between them, heads secured to the outer ends of said pistons to form cylinders which have auxiliary exhaust-ports 24 and 25 and steam-port 23, avalve in each cylinder to govern the ports 24 and 25, a rod 16 connecting said valves and washers on the rod between it and the valves to vary the distance apart of the latter.

25. The combination of the main cylinder 1 and its pistons 2 and the ports 9 and 10, a steam-chest 3 having the intermediate inlet 4, and end exhausts 5, two bushings 6 in the chest and having ports communicating with the cylinder-ports, connected pistons 12 connected' to the usual valve-rod and working in said bushings to govern said cylinder-ports and puppet-valves operating within said pistons 12.

26. The combination of the main cylinder 1 and its piston 2 and its ports 9 and 10, a steam-chest 3 having the intermediate inlet 4 and end exhausts 5, two bushings 6 in the chest and having ports communicating with the cylinder-ports, connected pistons working in said bushings to govern said cylinderports, and each having an auxiliary exhaust and valve mechanism within each piston to govern said auxiliary exhaust and actuated by live steam.

27. Piston-valve mechanism for steam-engines comprising two pistons governing the inlet and main exhaust of steam and having an auxiliary exhaust-passage extending through them, and valve mechanism operative within each piston to govern said exhaust-passage and actuated by live steam.

28. Piston-valve mechanism for steam-eugines comprising two pistons governing the inlet and main exhaust of steam and having an auxiliary exhaust-passage extending through them and a cushioned live-steamactuated valve operative within each piston to govern said exhaust-passage.

29. Piston-valvemechanism for steam-engines comprising two pistons governing the inlet and main exhaust of steam and having an auxiliary exhaust-passage extending through them, valve mechanism in each piston to govern said auxiliary exhaust-passage, and means actuated by live steam whereby the auxiliary exhaust is kept open until the substantial completion of the exhaust-stroke of the engine-piston and after the main exhaust has been closed.

30. Piston-valve mechanism for the'cylinders of steam-engines comprising two pistons governing the steam-portsof such cylinders and providing a main exhaust and also an auxiliary exhaust which is open when the main exhaust is closed and until the engine:- cylinder is exhausted at the completion of-a stroke of the piston said auxiliary exhaust being under the control of live steam.

31. Piston-valve mechanism for steam-engines comprising two pistons governing the inlet and main exhaust ofsteam and having an auxiliary exhaust-passage and means gov.- erning said exhaust-passage and adapted to open the same to prolong the exhaust after the main exhaust is completed. e I

32. Piston-valve mechanism for steam-en gines comprising two pistons governing the inlet and main exhaust of steam and having auxiliary exhaust-passages, puppet-valves operative Within said pistons and governing said exhaust-passages, which are alternately kept open after the main exhaust has been closed.

33. Piston-valve mechanism for steam-engines comprising two pistons governing the inlet and main exhaust of steam, each piston having an auxiliary exhaust-passage and a separate live-steam passage and a puppetvalve arranged in each piston which valve is actuated by live steam through said livesteam passage and governs said auxiliary exhaust-passage.

34. Piston-valve mechanism for steam-engines comprising two pistons governing the inlet and main exhaust of steam, each piston having an auxiliary exhaust-passage and a puppet-valve arranged in each of said pistons for governing said exhaust-passage, which is closed at the moment of steam admission and open during a portion of its respective main exhaust and after such main exhaust is closed, whereby the exhaust is prolonged.

35. Piston-valve mechanism for steam-engiues comprising two pistons governing the inlet and main exhaust of steam and each having an auxiliary exhaustpassage and means for varying the carrying capacity of said passage.

36. Piston-valve mechanism for steam-engines comprising two pistons governing the inlet and main exhaust of steam and each having an auxiliary exhaust-passage, a puppet-valve arranged in each piston for governing said exhaust-passages and adapted to be adjusted to more or less restrict said exhaustpassages.

37. Piston-valve mechanism for steam-engines comprising two pistons governing the inlet and main exhaust of steam and each having an auxiliary exhaust-passage,two connected puppet-valves arranged in the pistons respectively and adapted to govern said auxiliary exhaust-passages, and means for varying the distance between the puppetvalve and thereby varying the carrying capacity of such exhaust-passages.

MAURY W. I-IIBBARD. WILBER S. BARROWS.

"Witnesses:

S. E. HIBBEN, LoUIs B. ERWIN. 

